More Than This by Stephanie Taylor

Author:Stephanie Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stephanie Taylor

20

There’s a pall over the whole island that extends to even the youngest residents of Christmas Key. On Saturday afternoon, Logan is walking down Main Street behind his mother, carrying three overstuffed bags of groceries and provisions in his arms. He doesn’t say a word as she points at the golf cart silently, indicating that he should load them in the back. Mexi and Mori are a few steps ahead of their grandmother as Idora gives firm directions about where they should and shouldn’t go, and for once their faces aren’t the least bit impish or mischievous.

Cap is standing in front of his cigar shop with Wyatt Bender and Buckhunter, all three men conversing in low tones. Their arms are folded as they discuss Ray’s fall at the meeting on Thursday, disbelief over the fact that he’s really gone forcing them to replay the events for clues of a disaster that they never saw coming.

“You say he wasn’t feeling well?” Cap lifts his chin at Buckhunter.

“Fiona had seen him a few days before because he was under the weather. That’s about all I know,” Buckhunter says, recounting what his girlfriend had shared with him.

“Damn.” Wyatt moves a toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other. “Just goes to show you never know what’s lurking around the corner.”

“There’s real truth in those words.” Cap reaches up and offers a broken cracker to Marco, who’s perched on his shoulder. Marco takes the chunk of saltine from Cap’s strong fingers, pulling it into his beak with a single bob of his colorful head.

“We need to do all we can to rally around Millie when she gets back,” Wyatt says. “I’m sure the women will coordinate meals, but the rest of us can step up and help her out, too.”

“I’m happy to mow her lawn and take care of anything she needs around the house,” Buckhunter says, holding up a hand. “I’m sure Jake can pitch in if I need any help there.”

“How about with anything else?” Wyatt looks back and forth between the two other men.

“Uhhhh,” Cap says. Buckhunter’s face tells them both that he’s drawing a blank as well.

“You talking about emotional stuff?” Buckhunter’s forehead creases. “Like, sit with her and help her call relatives?”

“Probably ought to let the women guide us on that,” Cap decides, holding up another piece of cracker for Marco.

“Yeah, good call.” Wyatt nods seriously. “I guess that means we just take their lead on pretty much everything when Millie gets back.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time we let the hens peck us in the right direction,” Cap says with a broad grin.

“And it won’t be the last,” Buckhunter agrees.

“You all!” Bonnie calls out from the sidewalk on the other side of Main Street. She’s standing outside the B&B, her fiery red hair flaming in the afternoon sunlight. “I heard from Holly!” Bonnie looks both ways before she crosses the street, her short, curvy body swaying in a walk that’s half strut and half scurry. “She’s alive and well,” Bonnie says as she approaches the knot of men.

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